Dawn in Vancouver

Chapter 67: "Press Conference"

2/5 FOR THE END

"Part of social progress involves understanding that a person is not defined solely by their sexuality, race, or gender."

-Tim Cook

"I ask you to be orderly and calm," Danielle said to the group of journalists who were anxiously sitting in chairs waiting for Lauren, Dinah, and Normani to come out.

It had taken Danielle two hours to get everything organized and finally, everything was coming together as they wished. She took a deep breath and walked to the back where Lauren was sitting with Normani and Dinah. Lauren was staring out the window lost in thought.

Lauren pressed her forehead to the glass closing her eyes and imagining Camila; her beautiful eyes and lips. Lauren regretted letting her go. She needed her kisses and her arms to feel the security that had slowly slipped away from her. She listened to Normani and Dinah talking behind her but all she wanted was to see her beautiful writer and kiss her, make love to her. To see her beautiful brown eyes trying to forget the insecurity that had overtaken her.

"My love," Lauren whispered, imagining her beautiful face and the last kiss she had given her. "I need you..."

Lauren closed her eyes and felt a hand on her shoulder gently turn her around. And she met Dinah who smiled at her with a bit of sadness and fear. Lauren tried to smile and at that moment Danielle's voice was heard.

"Everything is ready," Danielle said softly, "They won't ask questions and will only listen to your statements," she sighed, "There are some journalists from television networks, programs and newspapers.

"Are we going one by one?" Normani asked, looking at the girls.

"I think it would be better if we all went together," Lauren said and they all nodded and took a deep breath. "Come on, girls."

They all nodded and started walking to the room. From the moment they walked in the three of them felt the amount of camera flashes on them. It was a very large group of people and they were surprised at how quickly Danielle had organized everything. A long table with a black cover was waiting for them with three chairs. The three of them met each other's eyes before sitting down and looking at the group of journalists in front of them. Lauren took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. The time had come.

She saw the microphone in front of her and grabbed it, making sure she was the first to speak.

"Good afternoon," Lauren said, her voice cracking slightly at what she was about to do. She saw the reporters practically going crazy to hear her statements and her eyes met with Danielle who gave her her cue to continue, "Good afternoon. I appreciate everyone coming to this impromptu call without adequate notice. Before we begin, the only thing I would like to ask you to do is to respect what each of us is going to say. Lately some things have been leaked about our private lives due to the disrespect of Mr. Jason Duval, a journalist like you that the only thing he has done has been to leak personal information disrespecting our privacy and that of the writer Camila Cabello for money and fame based on the lives and privacy of four people who deserve respect. He is an unscrupulous man who this afternoon I ask all the media to stop falling for his manipulations. If they want the truth, they will hear it from us."

Lauren took a deep breath and stared at the reporters as her hands trembled.

"There are always things in life that we keep quiet about, that we keep deep inside ourselves. Many times fear makes us hide who we really are and try to live a life based on appearances to fit into a stereotypical and manipulative society like the one we live in. I used to think that way" she stared at them. "I thought I had to hide my true self to avoid being judged by closed-minded people, and sadly I know that many people listening to me think that way. Unfortunately I made many mistakes on my way to finding my true identity. At this point in my life I am in a stage of self-discovery. I find myself finally valuing my heart more than the opinion of others."